MONTPELIER, Vermont — Vermont U.S. Rep. Peter Welch said Monday he wants to make it easier to buy electric cars by increasing the size of the federal tax credit for the vehicles and making those credits available at car dealerships.

The Democrat said increasing the size of the tax credit to $10,000 and making it easier to take advantage of would make the vehicles more affordable for middle-income people.

Electric car buyers are now eligible for credits up to $7,500 through their tax return.

“If we’re going to make real progress on climate change and we’re going to reduce the cost of transportation, by the way, the cost of gas to our consumers, then we want to make this technology available,” Welch said at an electric vehicle charging station near the Statehouse.
PHOTO: Montpelier Mayor John Hollar, left, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, second from right, and Dan Keene, right, owner of Lamoille Valley Ford, listen as Karen Glitman, second from left, of the Vermont Energy Investment Corp., speaks about the importance of electric vehicles, Monday, April 28, 2014, in Montpelier, Vt. Welch said he is planning to introduce legislation in Congress to increase the tax credit for the purchase of electric vehicles to up to $10,000 as a way to make it easier for people to buy electric cars. (AP Photo/Wilson Ring)
Montpelier Mayor John Hollar, left, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, second from right, and Dan Keene, right, owner of Lamoille Valley Ford, listen as Karen Glitman, second from left, of the Vermont Energy Investment Corp., speaks about the importance of electric vehicles, Monday, April 28, 2014, in Montpelier, Vt. Welch said he is planning to introduce legislation in Congress to increase the tax credit for the purchase of electric vehicles to up to $10,000 as a way to make it easier for people to buy electric cars. (AP Photo/Wilson Ring)

Welch said he planned to introduce the legislation for the Electric Vehicle Act when he returns to Washington.
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